Just diagnosed, weight loss?

[Fbmb]

I had my endo last Monday and I'm waiting to hear from my GI, but since last Tuesday I have been gluten free. I had a baby in May and I still had about 15 lbs to lose before I was diagnosed, but wasn't trying to lose it. Since I've stopped eating gluten (and dairy, since I think I may be a little sensitive right now) I have lost about 3 lbs. I always hear about people gaining weight after going gluten free but I seem to be losing. Is this normal? I'm not worried about it because I'm still about 10 lbs over my pre-baby weight, but I've never really lost weight without actually trying (counting calories, exercise), and now I am. Just wanted to see what you all think.

[squirmingitch]

It can go either way. Once people heal their guts, they can either gain weight or lose weight. It's not like a one size fits all just the same way when you're undiagnosed, you can be skinny as a rail OR super chunky & anywhere in between.

[kareng]

54 minutes ago, Fbmb said:

I had my endo last Monday and I'm waiting to hear from my GI, but since last Tuesday I have been gluten free. I had a baby in May and I still had about 15 lbs to lose before I was diagnosed, but wasn't trying to lose it. Since I've stopped eating gluten (and dairy, since I think I may be a little sensitive right now) I have lost about 3 lbs. I always hear about people gaining weight after going gluten free but I seem to be losing. Is this normal? I'm not worried about it because I'm still about 10 lbs over my pre-baby weight, but I've never really lost weight without actually trying (counting calories, exercise), and now I am. Just wanted to see what you all think.

But, in a way, you are trying to lose weight & restrict calories.  You have restricted your diet and cut out a lot of calories by not eating dairy and gluten,maybe fast food, etc

 

[cyclinglady]

Karen and SquirmingItch are right.  Losing weight can easily happen.  By not eating out, eliminating dairy, and skipping processed junk food, you are going to naturally lose weight.   I am sad to report that this could just be temporary!  I am gaining as I continue to cheat on my low carb high fat eating plan.  I have diabetes, along with celiac disease (and some more stuff....)  I've been baking gluten-free too much and not only is it affecting my blood sugar, but it's packing on the pounds.  

So, keep up the good work.  Don't toss your old clothes.  I maintain three sizes now:

1) Tiny -- reserved for fast weight loss after a glutening (working on never having this happen again...oh, except, I like to travel and it's happened when I am away from home for long extended periods).  While I look good on camera, but I am usually weak, have gut issues and high anxiety (to name a few).  Malabsorption is SO not worth it.  

2) Small -- when I'm good about a whole foods, low carb, high fat diet  My blood glucose loves this!  Harder to maintain during holidays.  Best to use my glucose meter all the time to help me better monitor my carb/sugar intake.  Realistically, it's the best long-term health option for me.   

3) Normal -- Plenty of fat to get me through a medical crisis.  Allows me to crank up mountains on my bike for 40, 50 or more miles.  Goes better with my gray hair!  Am bigger than my slender athletic teen daugher!   I'm happy with this size!    Just wish my diabetes was happy with this size.  

 

 

[GFinDC]

I agree, it can go either way, weight gain or weight loss.  We have had people who were heavy at diagnosis and they lost weight.  Not everyone is skinny with celiac disease.  Also, healing the gut can take months to years.  So it isn't easy to gain weight for some people.  We are all individuals and our bodies react individually.

High protein foods are a good idea at the beginning of the gluten-free diet.  Our bodies need protein to heal.

[Beverage]

I dropped 30 lbs in about a month after going gluten free, it was several pounds a day at first, then slowed to about a pound a day, then a pound a week.  Underneath the inflammation I was an emaciated woman with bone and muscle loss, a real sagging drawn face and felt like crap.  I also had bad deficiencies in B vitamins and thyroid, so work with a good doc (I recommend naturopath) to help your body to rebuild.

I do NOT believe it was from suddenly eating a better diet, my doc agrees.  I was eating really good whole and organic foods mostly, but with a little bread and oatmeal every day.  It was all inflammation / water retention.  The doc says that underneath the inflammation, I had wasted away like is typical with Celiac's, but the inflammation was covering it up. 

I have since stopped losing and have gained back about 7 lbs, but it's muscle and bone. I feel much stronger after about a year and a half, can do more exercise, but still working on it.

At first after going gluten free, since I had been starving, my body was craving food BIG TIME. I would joke that it was like having a teenager in the house. I'd make a huge gluten-free breakfast (2 eggs, gluten-free sausage or leftover meat or on corn tortillas like tacos), lunch a huge bowl of plain coconut yogurt with nuts and protein powder and fresh fruit plus an apple, afternoon snack of apple or nuts, dinner a huge plate of meat and vegetables in various concoctions.  I'd go back for seconds or even thirds. My body was craving nutrition now that it could start to absorb it.

I'm not as crazy hungry like that anymore, I have pretty much the same foods, but one good plateful at dinner is usually enough.  I don't have to eat teeny plates of food like others my age (60).  I can eat until I'm full up.  So no depriving this girl.

I never did get the big intestonal issues while eating gluten.  My giveaway now if I might have gotten glutened is that I feel more grumbling in the intestines and/or stomach, and I might gain a pound or feel a little bloated.

Take care, it takes awhile for your body to adjust, listen to it and give it time.

 

P.S. Be sure to read label on nuts, they should disclose if facility also processes wheat, but they are not required by law to disclose other sources of gluten like rye or barley (stoopid lawmakers only require wheat disclosure).  Since I was eating a lot of nuts, and I didn't want confusion if I got glutened, so I decided to buy gluten free certified from NUTS.COM. You can sign up for a newsletter and they have specials from time to time.

 

[Beverage]

Also like 'cyclinglady' I found I feel the best with more of a whole foods, paleo style diet.  At my local library, I can search a huge catalog for the entire county library system and request Paleo and Gluten Free cookbooks from other libraries in the system, and they send them to my library and I just go pick them up.  So that way I've not had to purchase them all and just take photocopies of my fav's.

I don't do 100% paleo, but it is my guideline and inspiration. I agree with her that processed gluten free foods have repercussions, they are usually high in starch and refined carbs.  I do treat myself to gluten-free pancakes or waffles (on my new waffle maker never had gluten on it ever) about once a month ;oO